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[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Chicago Astronomers on film opportunity

Chicago Astronomer Curt has a good friend that is making an independent film that has an astronomical angle to it - and we are invited to participate....

Thanks Joseph .

The film is called COIN TOSS it's a comedy about life and chances .It's a completely Chicago movie !


Here is the scene:


1) Day time - We see four to six of Astronomers watching the sky they are excited to this event to happen they been waiting for it for long. Their caps , T-shirts etc shows that they are Chicago Astronomers (may be we can have small banner or board if you already have) .

We also see telescopes or any other regular equipments that astronomers would use . Then we see from their faces that they see a meteor falling through the sky the fireball passes through the sky and disappears in woods with a big bang . Astronomers hug , claps excitement to see a life time event .

2) Location : I am open for suggestions in fact , may I request you guys to pick a location . Adler planetarium site would be great but I am not sure about who to contact for permissions etc.

3) This will be a 2 hrs shoot from start to finish . Date and Time I am thinking of doing it on 11 september from 8 AM to 10 AM . Please let me know. We can work out other dates if it's in convinient.


4) I do have few questions about meteor's that may be you and your friends can help me with .
I want to get all the technical facts right .

Please let me know if you have any other questions . Thank you so much for your help I am very excited to have real astronomers in my film !!
Best ,

~Satya

I think this will be fun to do and I would like to be part of it. I will work out the details with Satya, but if you are interested and would like to be a movie star, let me know.

I'm ready for my close up, Joe

[-=CROMAN=-]

I am definitely IN! Where do I sign up?

Location should be somewhat dark and abandoned. Maybe a rooftop somewhere? Something totally geeky. Adler is to ho hum and expected. If this movie is about taking chances then the location the astronomers in the film choose should be akin to a rave party. no permission, fence flipping, lock cutting type thing. Just my opinion

[RobbW]

Sounds like fun to me. Keep me updated on the plans and let me know where and when I need to be and what equipment I should bring along. Thanks!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

With these nibbles of interest, I have notified Satya and let her know we are indeed interested.

I would recommend that the scene be shot at night...with the great Chicago skyline in the background..but a isolated dilapidated spot has it's appeal as well.

End times.

[Centaur]

I’ll be appearing in the movie as a family lawyer. Indeed, the film’s producer/director is my friend Satya Kharkar who lives in Mount Prospect. He is a software engineer who emigrated from India ten years ago. We met three years ago while taking acting classes at Harper College. We’ve both been appearing in stage plays ever since, and he recently began producing short films: www.youtube.com/user/Anmolmovies?blend=1&ob=5 . I arranged an interview for him with Chicago’s WCIU-TV where I once worked. That was to promote his short film “D.W.T.” (Driving While Texting). “Coin Toss” will be his first full length feature.

I suggested Joe’s Chicago Astronomers to Satya. The group here would principally be involved in a scene in which you are observing a meteor shower. You will be cheering when a large meteor crushes the car of the villain.

As is the case with, Joe, I’ve been trying to convince Satya that meteor showers are not observed during the daytime. Shifting to nighttime creates problems for him regarding integration with nearby related scenes. I’ve suggested that the meteor strike the car shortly after sunrise while the group is still together, or shoot scenes in daylight but with filters making it appear to be moonlight. I imagine a solution will eventually be chosen that is both practical and realistic.

The movie takes place in both Galena and Chicago. The idea is to present the disparate charms of two Illinois locations: a quiet small town – a bustling big city. The Adler is ideal for emphasizing a Chicago landmark associated with astronomy, while also providing a marvelous view of the city skyline. It may be boring old hat to you, but not to the rest of the world. There is no pay, not even for me, but I hope you enjoy an opportunity to appear in a film.

[Paulie pchris00]

I'm in!

One question though...

How are we supposed to know the car being crushed by the meteorite belongs to a villain? I would have no reason to cheer a car being struck by a meteorite.

[patrickm]

If it's raining meteorites large enough to crush cars, I sure as frak wouldn't be outside meteorite watching! You should all at least wear hard hats or football helmets.

But why quibble?

[Centaur]

Aug 19, 2011 5:20:36 GMT -6 Paulie pchris00 said:

I'm in!

One question though...

How are we supposed to know the car being crushed by the meteorite belongs to a villain? I would have no reason to cheer a car being struck by a meteorite.

Paulie, no one is in the parked car. Indeed, the meteor observers may not be aware who the owner is. The movie audience would be aware and get a kick out of seeing the villain’s empty car destroyed as he watches from outside. The meteor observers are simply caught up with spotting a fireball streaking toward the ground, and cheer the fact that they are actually able to see one hit something. As meteor enthusiasts they are oblivious to the situations of the main characters, and are only concerned about having exciting meteor observations. It’s a comedy and characterizations can be outrageous. As actors portraying meteor geeks you may want to think of yourselves as being autistic. Oh, the concessions one must make as part of the acting craft.

[RobbW]

Aug 19, 2011 7:55:37 GMT -6 patrickm said:

If it's raining meteorites large enough to crush cars, I sure as frak wouldn't be outside meteorite watching! You should all at least wear hard hats or football helmets.

I was going to wear my tin foil hat, but for just for looks. If the meteorites are big enough to crush cars, not even hard hats or football helmets would save you! Besides, wearing a tin foil hat would instantly make me the most recognizable of the group. Everyone in the audience will be pointing at me! Albeit, only to ask, "Who the F is THAT geek?!?!"

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

End times.

[Centaur]

The producer/director was hoping to shoot the meteor shower scene during daylight. Of course that is scientifically unrealistic. I offered the solution seen below, and he accepted it. Joe's video seen above inspired me.
______________________

All right, here’s a solution to the meteor problem. Let’s not make it an annually occurring meteor shower with many meteors. Instead the NASA/JPL Near Earth Object Program discovers a three-meter (10-foot) wide meteoroid that’s expected to enter the atmosphere within 24 hours. The projected path has it passing as a fireball westward across southern Lake Michigan at (given time during day) with a 99% probability of either dissipating completely or becoming a small remnant splashing into the lake. Joe’s “Chicago Astronomers” (rather than "Meteor Society") gather at the planetarium in anticipation of spotting the fireball over the lake. Instead a 25-centimeter (10-inch – basketball size) wide remnant reaches the planetarium grounds on a small peninsula in the lake and slams into a parked car.

[RobbW]

Just trying to imagine what kind of impact a 10" meteorite would have....

[Centaur]

Aug 20, 2011 9:30:06 GMT -6 RobbW said:

Just trying to imagine what kind of impact a 10" meteorite would have....

At nearly 700 mph you may be wise to step out of its way.

[RobbW]

No joke! At 10" and 700mph, would a meteorite that size just take out a small car, or is it likely to do more damage, like take out a small building?

[Centaur]

The director now tells me that the astronomers will not actually witness the meteor striking the parked car. They will simply be cheering the sight of a fireball over the Chicago skyline.

I had my rehearsal today and my lone scene will be shot on this coming Saturday, September 3 in Buffalo Grove. The astronomers’ scene will be shot on Sunday, September 11 between 8 and 10 am. Currently the venue is expected to be the Adler Planetarium grounds, but that might change.

Be sure to let Joe know if you want to not only watch the stars but also become a star!

[Centaur]

There was a fireball over Atlanta on Sunday night: news.yahoo.com/brilliant-meteor-lights-sky-over-atlanta-171601180.html

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

End times.

[Centaur]

Aug 30, 2011 18:45:26 GMT -6 Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe said:

End times.

I can’t wait to see the horrified expression on your actor’s face, Joe, when you pretend to witness a fireball hurtling across Chicago.

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

Dios Mio...!

[Chicago Astronomer - Astro Joe]

The director requires four (4) Astronomers and I think we have the slots filled:

Myself
Paulie
Robb
Rich

We will all gather Sunday morning, September 11th at 7:30 am by the Adler Planetarium and receive instructions.

Should be fun.

[Paulie pchris00]

Two questions.

Will we need any equipment (to identify ourselves as astronomers)?

How should we dress?

[RobbW]

Please tell me we get to be geeks! Please tell me we get to be geeks! Please tell me we get to be geeks! **Fingers Crossed**

[-=CROMAN=-]

Is this a bring all the scope you have type situation?

[RobbW]

Any additional info on the itinerary? I have something I need to plan around our feature film endeavors.

[Centaur]

Sept 2, 2011 8:24:02 GMT -6 RobbW said:

Any additional info on the itinerary? I have something I need to plan around our feature film endeavors.

My scene was shot this afternoon. What hoot! It was my first time in a dramatic film, although I have appeared in stage plays and on TV as a news anchor. The director and crew today were quite professional and indicated they were pleased with our performances. I learned a lot about movie making procedure. You’ll enjoy working with them.

My scene was the last one after a long day of shooting. Due to earlier delays it was about two hours behind schedule. Apparently aircraft, geese and passersby extended some of the outdoor shooting before our later indoor shooting could begin.

Since the meteor scene will be the first one shot on September 11, I would hope it will come closer to the planned 8 to 10 am. Nevertheless, you may want to allow for a later wrap. In any event, Joe and the director should keep you updated. You won’t likely have the heat problems we had filming in a small room with hot lights and many warm bodies. The makeup artist had to dry and re-powder me several times.

Let’s hope the weather is good for you guys. Break a leg!

[RobbW]

Actually, it looks like I may not have to plan around our filming after all. I should be available for as long as it takes to break a leg!!!

[wwpierre]

Anxiously awaiting developments. Have had filming around here on occasion.

[Paulie pchris00]

Closest I've been to a movie set was a few years ago when Johnny Depp was in Crown Point filming his Dillinger movie (which I still haven't seen). I was working in C.P. at the time, so I went downtown, and saw the crew prepping to shoot at the old Lake County Jail, where Dillinger infamously escaped from. Another morning I was insulating at the Crown Point little league field concession stand, which is across from the old Lake County highway building. A bunch of 30's era cars started arriving for filming at that location, which I believe is where Dillinger fled to after the jail break.

Hopefully we can have a little fun with this next week. ;D

[Centaur]

Due to the Bears opening their regular season at Soldier Field on September 11 at noon, the area around the nearby Adler Planetarium will likely become inaccessible. The movie producer intends to change either the date or the venue for the meteor scene. He’ll let Joe know once a decision has been made. I’m sure Joe will then pass the information along to you actors.

[Paulie pchris00]

Yep. Forgot about that.

Somebody should let da Bears know the lockout is over...